The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-05-11
The .'Press and Banner is CafechiSe"
On the school Question.

The ..Press and Banner is CafechiSe"
On the school Question.
The Marlboro Democrat, published at Ben
nettsville, has an Educational department.
and. like the educational department. OF
some other newspapers. Is active IN lts Nsn'
for big pay to teachers AS consequence,
that paper and others, who favor llnerai
monthly distribution OF the public 1uhu,
would close the public schools at the earliest
moment possible. In the last Issue oi tlla'
newspaper, we find the following:
"For some time past several newspapers, IN IN
theState have been attempting to prove 10 the
satisfaction OF the Press and Hammer tnat poor p
pay will bring with 1t q poor teacher, ont tne
Press and Banner insists that by lowering tmS uli
teachers salary and lengtheninS lne school
term, the children are benefited. rms seems
to be very poor logic, for 1t is our experience
that where the education OF chiia IS GO com
mitted TO one not thoroughly Quai1heu 10 IN
struct. q great injury is done the chllu, an III
jury that will require much patient toll 10
remedy. ,,,,,,v ,nswer
these questions:
II. In sending child to school, would you
select the school presided over by an lneNpe-
salary OF si2 per month, or to the experienced
40 Do YOU believe Abbeville county can
keep her present teachers. at the present ra'e
..s. Do You believe that q thoroughly quail
fled teacher can be obtained at Slo OF sl2 per
-. DO you really believe that the teachers
OF South Carolina want the public SCHOOLS
closed for want of funds ?"
We take 1t that our good brother is perfect
ly sincere in his belief that the teachers
should be paid higher salaries, and we take II
for granted also that in his zeal for the teach
ers he does not wish to do any wrong
to the children who may be dependent upon
the public money. That paper says:
"It Is our experience that where the educa-
- "tion of a child is committed to one not thor.
''oughly qualined to INSTRUCT u great INJURY Is
,'done the child
School Commissioner Cowan, and board oil
educated, practical, conscientious gentlemen,
have certified to the ability and good charac-
ter OF every teacher In this county. Or our
own knowledge we can certify that our teach
ers, rs a class, are credit to Abbeville coun-
". and we believe that teachers Of the same
standing would give abundant satisfaction to
the people Of any county in the State
Our friends first question, rs to choice be-
tween n Sl2 teacher and $50 teacher, is irrcl-
evant. We have in Abbeville county about
two hundred teachers. They have taught
each year as long as there was any money in
was $40 or siO month, and the same teachers,
rs a rule, will continue when the salary is re.
duced to SIS. Supposiag that our good BROTH
er is something of a mathematician we Will
let him cipher out the difference in favor OF
the children, when the salary was $50. and not
$40 month. Being scholar, we presume
our friend is also something Of q logician and
we will therefore leave him to explain how
the same teacher can do better service in
three months than he can do In six months.
Plain. uneducated people, like this scribe.
caanot see how the salary affects the teachers
ability.
The second question: as to whether "wc be-
lieve Abbeville county can keep her present
teachers, at the present rate of compensa-
tion," is easily enough answered. Wo can.
Besides those now employed there are here a
number of most excellent teachers who
would be glad 10 get n school at $40 month,
or SIS month.
While there can be no doubt that there are
some teachers who cannot be employed at SO
to Sl2 month, yet It Is perfectly certain, and
unqueStionably true, that muny most excel
lent teachers can be employed at $lj month.
We know whereof we speak, when we say
this. We were told last Saleday by Il trustee
Of one of the townships that one OF the teach
ers proposed to continue Il school, after the
public fund was eXhdustcd-1 The patrons
,could .slnake M nine dolttrS Il m0nM-this
same teacher being now in the pay Of the gov
ernment, as We presume, at the rate Of so Il
month.
The public schools can be continued at the
present low rate for the simple reason that
N fpu Cnn
make more money at anything else.
Oar county is full of educated young ladies,
who have graduated from our colleges. In
nine cases outof ten their parents have been
forced TO economise to enable them to secure
this education for their children. When they
20 home from college they feel like at least be-
ing selEsuStaiiing, and they most gladly &c.
cept q situation to teach. They can do MOTH
ing else that will be as congenial TO their
tastes, and they can do nothing else which
will yield so good return for their services.
When it is remembered that the schools are
kept open for only five or six hours, seventy
five cents q day-or Sl5 month OF twenty
days-is not so bad for n young lady who lives
at home.
Our friend may say that young ladies are
not as good teachers as men. II he docs we
would take issue with him. They arc by ma
ture better qualified to control and teach chill
dren than men. In saying this we do not de-
ny that some men may teach and control
children better than some women, but we are
speaking OF the rule.
Mechanics and laboring men command
higher salaries than are usually paid to men
and women who seek literary pursuits. AS q
money-makinD business the learned profess
sions-nine times in ten-arc unprofitablc,
and teaching seems to be no exception to the
rule, except where village gud.eonS, with Wis
ionary notions see fit to employ them.